3 night minimum for AP rate???

[Orsba]

I just got off the phone with 407-W-Disney. I wanted to book a split stay for next May, with two nights at Boardwalk, four nights at Coronado, and three nights at Wilderness Lodge. The first agent I spoke to could not book it because it was Walt Disney Travel Company and her computer could only book three nights or more for packages. She transferred me to CRO, and the cast member there started to take my reservation. I told her the nights we wanted, then she put me on hold after booking my Boardwalk stay. I was on hold for at least 8 minutes, then she came back to say that they are phasing out CRO later this year and that they could not book me for two nights if I want to apply an Annual Pass rate when they come out. The minimum number of nights they can book for is three unless I want to keep full rack rates.
Is it just me, or shouldn't I be able to book now under the current system and be "grandfathered in" when they change over to the new system? We decided not to book anything right now, but will probably go with five nights at Coronado and four at Wilderness Lodge. This seems to me that Disney is shooting themselves in the foot - I would have spent more money (and been a happier guest) if I could have booked my stay the way I originally wanted.

 

[disneyjunkie]

AP rates aren't out yet for that time period; there's no way of knowing if they'll even have ap rates during your trip. I'm still waiting for the rates to be releases for this October.



You could book the room at rack rate, then if ap rates come out change it later.

 

[DebbieB]

I had an AP rate last year for 1 night.

 

[airhead]

....KEEP CALLING BACK!! Some of the people making reservations are new employees and the info here is much more reliable!

airhead

 

[ceecee]

Yes...callback. My first reservationist told me $2500.00 for ASmo FTP. I questioned her 3 times, because I know that was too high (had gotten an $1700.00 quote for CSR earlier). Called 10 minutes later and got the correct rate of $1300.00. Go fiqure!

 

[Janet2k]

Gosh, I hope that's not true (a minimum of a 3-night stay for AP holders in the future). But as Disney states on their official WDW website:

- - - - - - -
Prices, benefits and other terms are subject to change without notice.
- - - - - - -

 

[Orsba]

I think I will try to call back. I guess what I am most disappointed about (if it is true) is the fact that CRO is going away and that all reservations are going to be through WDTC. They treat even room-only reservations as packages, and have much more restrictive policies for deposits, cancellations, and changes (including calling back to add a code to a room rate. I got this information from Mary Waring's site.

 

[DebbieB]

That has been a rumor for some time and it hasn't happened yet. I would just make your reservation as you want it at rack rates and if it does change next year worry about it then.

 

[freediverdude]

I suspect something like this could be coming true, although I don't know for sure, because I noticed recently also on Expedia that Expedia will not allow you to book a Disney resort for less than 3 nights anymore. Any time you do a search now on Expedia and put in dates of less than 3 nights, all the Disney resorts come up with a little red sentence beneath them saying that that resort cannot be booked for less than 3 nights. (Except for one type of room at AKL for some strange reason- but I think that's a fluke.) If that does come true, that will really hurt their business from Florida residents and local passholders, as we frequently go over there for a night or two, and a 3-nighter is considered a longer trip for us.

 

[Puffy2]

I'd book for the same hotel for the entire trip (as someone who has resort hopped, I try not to do it anymore because it is a hassle and cuts into our touring time and with children is exhasuting). Also, I bet you could still book the Swan or Dolphin with fewer nights at an AP rate (since they are owned separately).

 

[peachgirl]

Is it just me, or shouldn't I be able to book now under the current system and be "grandfathered in" when they change over to the new system?

You can't be "grandfathered in" because existing reservations have nothing to do with getting AP rates or any other discount for that matter.

You stand just as good a chance of getting an AP rate with no reservation at all as you do reserving now and waiting for the rates to come out.

 

[Dizhappy]

I am staying at the Beach Club for only 1 night to cap off my stay this week July 8 -13. I got the AP rate of 204 for 1 night.

 

[shoes99]

I know this is off topic, but when I called from my room at the All Stars in January to book a come back rate for September, they told me the minimum was 3 nights.
Last August I booked an AP rate at the Boardwalk Inn for 1 night, moving from the All Stars.
Waiting for AP rates to come out for Sept 2003...

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I have been screwed by minimum stays before. Back in 2000, I tried to book the All-Stars rack rate for one night, and it was the Thursday before Memorial Day. Originally I got it, then the next day Disney called back my TA and informed me that you MUST have a three night minimum to stay there since it was near a holiday. I gave up and stayed off-site at the Doubletree Castle instead. It frustrated me since at that time I was reading about plenty of people here on the boards who had one night stays with no trouble whatsoever.

Is your stay next May near Memorial Day? Maybe Disney already has restrictions on those dates. But either way I would not be surprised if Disney makes everyone who has a discount must have at least a three night stay. But I bet alot of people will go off-site instead like I did.

<img src="http://home.att.net/~disneysue/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[freediverdude]

Ok, I just got off the phone with Disney, and they didn't give me a problem with wanting to reserve for 1 or 2 nights only. I asked for August dates, and my Florida resident/annual passholder discount, and they didn't give me any flack. So I think the 3 night minimum thing must be only for certain discounts or packages, like maybe the come back rate or FTP or certain holiday weeks. I didn't ask whether I was talking to WDTC or CRO, and don't know if that makes a difference. Boy, they sure put you through the paces now though before they will quote you anything LOL- I had to verify my name and telephone number and address and spell everything out and it took like 5 minutes to get to the point where she could quote me a rate LOL.

 

[ArcticWildMan]

I'm going to try and get 2 nights at the WL in early December if/when the AP rates come out. If they give me any garbage about having to stay for 3 nights, I'll just stay offsite at HIFS or at the Dolphin.

The last thing Disney needs to do is start setting restrictions on the length of stay. They should be grateful for any business they get

 

[meiandrew]

I agree.... call back !! Our best friend is meeting us in WDW during our November-December trip. She called to book the ASMovies, and was given a rate of $99. (12/1-12/6) I kept telling her that she should be given a $77 rate. The CM that she spoke with told her that "Holiday Season" kicks in Nov 30th !!!???

She told me what happened, and I told her to call back. I told her that in less they changed things, that period should be value season. She called back, and ended up with the $77 rate.

She was put on hold for 10-15 mins, but at least she got the right price !!!

 

[CarolA]

All I can say is Expedia is not exactly the best gauge of this. It told me one hotel could not be booked for more than one night. WHAT??? I can only stay one night at time at the Gaylord Palms and I know it is not sold out because just out of curiosity I tried all nights and they come up indivdually but not if I want to book 2 or 3 nights.

Also, I don't think that CRO is a good gauge of what will be required for an AP rate next May since they can't even tell us for certain there will be AP rates! I think she was just trying to sell something and it was easier for her just to book one room!